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Mikalai Statkevich: Belarusian National Congress Is the Beginning of the Unification Process (Video, online)

Mikalai Statkevich: Belarusian National Congress Is the Beginning of the Unification Process (Video, online)
PHOTO BY NASHA NIVA

Minsk hosted the Belarusian National Congress.

The action was launched at 12 am, May 15 near the Yanka Kupala monument, Minsk.

The authorities refused to provide a premise to hold the Congress, therefore, it was decided to hold the action in the open air.

The organizing committee called citizens to come and to support delegates in their struggle for the right of peaceful assemblies. Foreign diplomats were welcomed as well.

The objective of the Congress was the unification of opposition forces.

During the action the Belarusian National Congress was announced a standing opposition coalescence. The powers of the organizing committee of the Congress will be devolved on the BNC Council. It only the beginning of the opposition unification process," the initiator of the Congress Mikalai Statkevich said.

Politician leaders of the organizing committee are as follows: Mikalai Statkevich, presidential candidate in 2010, poet and social activist Uladzimir Nyaklyayew, first head of independent Belarus Stanislau Shushkevich, Henadz Fiadynich, Chairman of the Trade Union of Radio and Electronics, leader of the Razam movement Vyachyslau Siuchyk, co-Chairman of the Young Front Zmitser Dashkevich, leader of the European Belarus campaign and presidential candidate in 2010 Andrei Sannikov.

13:00 Mikalai Statkevich thanked all the participants of BNC. The constituent session of the Belarus National Congress was declared closed.

PHOTO BY NASHA NIVA

12:59 Nyakluayew stated the organizing committee of the Belarus National Congress devolved its powers on the BNC Council.

12:56 Statkevich stated, although there was no free election in the country, the majority of democratic organizations had decided to participate in it. The politician again called to create a single list of opposition candidates.

PHOTO BY RADIO SVABODA

12:55 Statkevich proclaimed the BNC a standing opposition coalescence. The permanent work of the BNC Council was announced. It only the beginning of the opposition unification process," Statkevich said.

The decision was taken unanimously.

PHOTO BY RADIO SVABODA

12:51 Statkevich suggested participants of the congress to consider documents.

12:50 Uladzimir Nyaklyayew took the floor again. The poet and the politician notes today it is important for the opposition to work out a strategy and pool the interests.

"Other Belarusian poet who has recently passed away used to say "Our hearts are bleeding for Belarus, the only difference is in the strength." Thanks to everyone who came to the Congress from regions despite possible repressions," Nyaklyayew said.

PHOTO BY RADIO SVABODA

12:45 Leader of the Razam movement Vyachyslau Siuchyk takes the floor. He said the main objective was to launch the process of unification of the opposition. He characterized the political situation as follows: "We all have been forced to live in slavery." Any slavery meets its end, the same happens to Lukashenka's one.

"Let us believe what our ancestors used to believe in, the thing that gave them hope to stay strong. There is justice in the world. Today we are standing in the holy place - Yanka Kupala dedicated his life and talant to his people. He also left for us "Long Live Belarus!", Siuchyk said.

PHOTO BY NASHA NIVA

12:37 Henadz Fyadynich takes the floor. The Trade Union's leader told about emergencies at Belarusian enterprises, sharp drop of wages, unemployment, pressure on workers, as well as on directors on the part of authorities.

"Is this the country we all have wanted? Contract system intimidates people, they find themselves in servitude. Today we need reforms, but the government is afraid of them in order not to lose power. What to do? Will it disappear? No! We take the first step to launch the process of changes", Fyadynich said.

PHOTO BY RADIO SVABODA

12:33 Stanislau Shushkevich opened a congress. He notes even the policemen who today follow the congress are against events happening today in Belarus and the head of the Interior Ministry should resign. In his words, Belarus today takes the first places in the world with the number of policemen. Shushkevich greeted all participants of the Congress, having noted that that day first of all it was needed to counteract fraud elections.

PHOTO BY RADIO SVABODA

12:29 A poet and politician Uladzimir Nyaklyayew took the podium near the monument. He urged opposition to unite.

12:27 First head of independent Belarus Stanislau Shushkevich arrived. He stated he was glad to see so many people at the Congress.

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